Last Modified: Thursday, January 3, 2013 at 11:55 p.m.

TAMPA BAY QUARTERBACK JOSH FREEMAN had an up-and-down year in 2012. He threw for more than 4,000 yards and had 26 touchdowns but the fourth-year player struggled late.

SCOTT WHEELER | THE LEDGER

But there were also enough let-downs and bad decisions to leave the Bucs with a sense of disappointment.

Either through free agency or the draft, expect Tampa Bay head coach Greg Schiano to bring in competition to push Freeman in the final year of his contract.

"Certainly when the expectation level is what we make it and then you don't make it, then there's also disappointment," Schiano said. "Josh is probably his own toughest critic. I don't know if anything I'm going to tell him is going to shock him."

What Schiano likely told Freeman was that it wasn't a horrible year.

Freeman became the first quarterback in team history to throw for 4,000 yards in a season (4,065); he set the team mark for touchdown passes in a season (27) and now has thrown for the most touchdown passes in team history (78).

But there were some bad parts of the year.

Freeman was sacked 26 times. His completion percentage of 54.8 was the second lowest of his career, following his rookie season of 2009. Of his 17 interceptions, eight came during a two-game span.

"It was an up-and-down year," Schiano said. "But you look at 4,000 yards (and) records all over the place, there were a lot of positives there."

There are some valid reasons for the numbers being as sporadic as the stock market.

Freeman was in his third offense in four years. It takes time to master the nuances of any offense, and there were times when Freeman and his receivers were not on the same page.

Freeman attempted more deep passes in 2012. Tampa Bay averaged 7.28 yards per completion, which was comparable to Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger (7.27) but a little lower than Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers (7.78), who threw just six fewer passes than Freeman.

"It's been a rough year for a number of reasons," Freeman said. "Obviously, ending the season not making the playoffs is unacceptable. It's not where we want to be."

In his third full season as the team's starter, the Bucs have not made the playoffs. With Freeman's rookie contract expiring after the 2013 season, the Bucs will have to make a decision on his future.

Bringing in a quarterback to compete with Freeman could help, Schiano thinks.

"Do I think Josh Freeman is going to win Super Bowls in this league? I do," Schiano said. "I hope that happens here. But at the end of the day, I have to evaluate everything before I can say that's what we're doing.

"The one thing I do believe in is competition in every spot, including the quarterback," he said. "As much competition that we can create on the football team rises the level of everything. It's not like they're not mentally tough guys or they're not competitors, but it's human nature: When there's competition, the level rises."

Freeman knows he has to improve if the team is going to be successful.

"Personally, I just try to get better every day," he said. "There's not going to be a ‘You set a goal, and that's where you're going to end up.' Each day, you just have to continue to try to get better — better physically, better mentally — and continue to lead. That's what I plan to do."

<p>TAMPA | In his fourth year, Tampa Bay quarterback Josh Freeman showed flashes of being the franchise quarterback the Buccaneers thought he would be when they drafted him in the first round.</p><p>But there were also enough let-downs and bad decisions to leave the Bucs with a sense of disappointment.</p><p>Either through free agency or the draft, expect Tampa Bay head coach Greg Schiano to bring in competition to push Freeman in the final year of his contract.</p><p>"Certainly when the expectation level is what we make it and then you don't make it, then there's also disappointment," Schiano said. "Josh is probably his own toughest critic. I don't know if anything I'm going to tell him is going to shock him."</p><p>What Schiano likely told Freeman was that it wasn't a horrible year.</p><p>Freeman became the first quarterback in team history to throw for 4,000 yards in a season (4,065); he set the team mark for touchdown passes in a season (27) and now has thrown for the most touchdown passes in team history (78).</p><p>But there were some bad parts of the year.</p><p>Freeman was sacked 26 times. His completion percentage of 54.8 was the second lowest of his career, following his rookie season of 2009. Of his 17 interceptions, eight came during a two-game span.</p><p>"It was an up-and-down year," Schiano said. "But you look at 4,000 yards (and) records all over the place, there were a lot of positives there."</p><p>There are some valid reasons for the numbers being as sporadic as the stock market.</p><p>Freeman was in his third offense in four years. It takes time to master the nuances of any offense, and there were times when Freeman and his receivers were not on the same page.</p><p>Freeman attempted more deep passes in 2012. Tampa Bay averaged 7.28 yards per completion, which was comparable to Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger (7.27) but a little lower than Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers (7.78), who threw just six fewer passes than Freeman.</p><p>"It's been a rough year for a number of reasons," Freeman said. "Obviously, ending the season not making the playoffs is unacceptable. It's not where we want to be."</p><p>In his third full season as the team's starter, the Bucs have not made the playoffs. With Freeman's rookie contract expiring after the 2013 season, the Bucs will have to make a decision on his future.</p><p>Bringing in a quarterback to compete with Freeman could help, Schiano thinks.</p><p>"Do I think Josh Freeman is going to win Super Bowls in this league? I do," Schiano said. "I hope that happens here. But at the end of the day, I have to evaluate everything before I can say that's what we're doing.</p><p>"The one thing I do believe in is competition in every spot, including the quarterback," he said. "As much competition that we can create on the football team rises the level of everything. It's not like they're not mentally tough guys or they're not competitors, but it's human nature: When there's competition, the level rises."</p><p>Freeman knows he has to improve if the team is going to be successful.</p><p>"Personally, I just try to get better every day," he said. "There's not going to be a 'You set a goal, and that's where you're going to end up.' Each day, you just have to continue to try to get better — better physically, better mentally — and continue to lead. That's what I plan to do."</p><p>Notes: Tampa Bay signed 10 players to future contracts: safety Sean Baker, long snapper Andrew DePaola, tight end Drake Dunsmore, linebacker Joe Holland, tight end Zach Miller, defensive end Ernest Owusu, tackle Mike Remmers, cornerback James Rogers, defensive back Nick Saenz and quarterback Adam Weber.</p><p> </p><p>[ Rick Brown may be reached at rick.brown@theledger.com. Follow his Bucs coverage at BucsScene.blogs.theledger.com and on Twitter @LedgeronBucs. ]</p>